Iron-catalysed reduction of olefins using a borohydride reagent

Abstract

The iron-catalysed reduction of olefins has been achieved using a simple iron salt and sodium triethylborohydride. A wide range of mono- and trans-1,2-disubstituted alkenes have been reduced (91-100%) using 25 mol% iron(II) triflate, 1 mol% N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and 4 equivalents of sodium triethylborohydride. The reduction of alkynes to alkanes is also reported (up to 84%). Significantly, the reduction of trisubstituted alkenes has also been achieved (60-86%). Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.